A Catholic high school may be in Wilmington's future

High school parents may have a new option for education in the future. Area priests will meet Thursday to discuss the idea of building Wilmington's first Catholic high school.
While there are two Catholic schools in Wilmington, neither of them go beyond eighth grade. But the Cape Fear Deanery, a group of local priests, will meet Thursday to discuss changing that.
On their regular agenda, is an item to potentially build the first Catholic high school in Wilmington. St. Mark’s principal, Marguerite Miller Difulvio said, “It is only a thought, its only being looked at. There are no promises here, but it would be a nice option if it were possible to happen."
Enrollment at St. Mark's and St. Mary Catholic schools continue to grow. According to the Diocese of Raleigh, between the two Wilmington schools, more than six hundred students are now enrolled. One reason why? North Carolina has more Catholics than it used to. In the last fifteen years, the number of Catholics statewide has more than doubled from 85,000 to 207,000.
"I think it would be well supported. I think that having the two Catholic schools that have growing numbers of students would definitely be enough to support the high school,” said Beth Connell, a St. Mary’s parent.
A Catholic school in the region would not only serve the growing number of Catholics, but it would also provide an alternative to public and private school education. Dorene Field, also a St. Mary’s parent said, “I went to Catholic school all my life and I would love to have my kids go from kindergarten through 12th grade. So yeah, I'd be really enthusiastic if I could bring one here."
But a Catholic high school in Wilmington is still far from a reality. Thursday’s meeting is just preliminary, and a decision will not be reached.

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